Tsubaki's Unrelenting Evil Spell

[ recap ]

Recap from previous episode. TSU's fox demon jumps and crashes towards INU, who dodges. INU turns around and claws at it.

INU:   Iron Reaver, Soul Stealer!

The fox raises its huge paw and slaps INU backwards. He crashes onto the ground. The fox lands.

KAG:  (weakly) Inuyasha…

[ End of recap: 1min 57sec ]

[ Title screen: Tsubaki's Unrelenting Evil Spell ]

[ ACT I ]

Continuation from previous episode. INU and TSU's fox demon face off each other. The fox leaps at INU, who dodges. It continues to attack INU viciously and continuously. INU has a hard time dodging the blows. The fox raises his paw and claws INU in the stomach. INU winces in pain as blood gushes out of the wound.

MIR:   Inuyasha!

INU lands.

TSU:  Now do you understand?! Anything you do is useless. Just lie quietly and become fodder, Inuyasha!

INU:   (grimaces as he holds his wound with one hand) I just don't use Tetsusaiga, right? (raises his bloodied claws) I just need one arm to deal with that disgusting demon!

TSU:  Hold your tongue!

The fox demon leaps at INU, who jumps backwards and swings his claws.

INU:   Blades of Blood!

Red blades of blood fly at the demon, cutting its right eye and face. It growls in pain and crashes to the ground. INU lands and smirks.

TSU:  Don't get too cocky! (squeezes the Jewel in her hand)

KAG winces in pain and the dark shards in her neck glow. SAN and MIR look at her, worried.

SAN:  Kagome!

INU:   Kagome! (to TSU) Why you…!

TSU:  Do not forget, Inuyasha. I hold Kagome's life in my hand!

The fox demon gets up. A glow appears over its right eye and it's healed. It turns to INU and growls loudly.

INU:   (thinking) Damn! What am I gonna do?! What?!

SAN:  Kagome… Are you in pain?

KAG:  (weakly) I'm okay… I'm okay, so…

SAN:  Miroku. We must help Inuyasha. Otherwise, Kagome won't be able to hang on.

MIR:   No… Whether Inuyasha wins or loses, Tsubaki intends to kill Kagome.

SAN:  But…!

MIR:   Yes… The only way is to break Tsubaki's curse. Either we destroy Tsubaki, or we destroy her messenger demon spirit, Shikigami.

SAN:  Before Kagome fell ill, she said she was bitten by something.

MIR:   Yes, that was probably the messenger demon of the Dark Priestess. (looks at the Shikigami on TSU's shoulder) It had to have been that snake. (to SAN) Please help, Sango! (runs)

SAN:  Miroku!

MIR runs past the fox demon and towards TSU. The fox leaps and slaps HIR away.

SAN:  Hiraikotsu!

SAN raises HIR and swings it towards TSU. MIR takes the chance and throws three paper seals at TSU.

TSU:  (thinking) Hah! Sutra exorcisms? (slaps the seals away, shouting) Useless tricks!

Shikigami raises its head and growls. The seals catch fire and burns into pieces. MIR gapes.

TSU:  Fool! My curse cannot be broken!

The fox demon jumps towards MIR and slams a paw down. MIR dodges and falls backwards.

MIR:   Shucks!

The fox demon growls and raises its paw again.

INU:   Miroku! (grabs MIR and leaps backwards)

TSU:  So stubborn… If you resist me, Kagome's suffering will be prolonged. Or, it's so easy to do… Shall I send Kagome to the netherworld now? (squeezes the Jewel in her hand)

KAG is in more pain and shrieks. She faints.

SAN:  Kagome! Kagome! Hang on! Kagome! Kagome!

Cut to KAG lying unconscious alone against a dark background.

KAG:  (voice-over, gentle tone) Sango, I know. I'll wake up in a minute. Please wait.

A ringing sound is heard in the background. Zoom in to close-up of KAG's face, with eyes closed.

KAG:  (thinking) What's this sound? So noisy…

Voice:  Kagome… Kagome… Kagome!

KAG:  (thinking) Huh? Someone's calling. Who was that?

Cut to modern Japan. Daytime. KAG is sleeping in her bedroom. The alarm clock on her bed stand is ringing.

Mama: Kagome! Wake up or you'll be late for school.

KAG opens her eyes sleepily. MOM turns off the alarm clock.

Mama: How long're you going to stay in bed?

KAG:  (sits up suddenly) Where's Sango? Inuyasha? And Miroku… Why am I back in this world?

Mama: What're you mumbling about? (walks out of the room) Hurry and come down. Don't you want breakfast?(smiles)

Cut to kitchen. MOM is stirring a pot of stew. SOT and GRA sit at the dining table. KAG walks in.

Sota: 'Morning, Sis.

GRA:  Can't you at least say a morning greeting?

KAG:  (sits down, confused) 'Morning. Say, when did I come back here?

Sota: (blank stare) Here?

GRA:  (blank stare) Did you go somewhere?

KAG:  What're you saying? The other world… 500 years in the past. Remember… When I enter that old hidden well, I enter the civil era where there are oodles of demons.

GRA:  (shocked) You went into that well?

KAG:  I've come and gone so many times already! Inuyasha came here, too.

Sota: Inuyasha?

GRA:  What is that?

KAG:  Have you forgotten Inuyasha?! Gramps, are you all right? (points to her head) Remember, the one that has dog ears.

GRA:  (squints at KAG) Are YOU all right?

Sota: Sis, maybe you should stay home from school today.

Mama: She's still half asleep.

KAG:  Everyone…

MOM, SOT and GRA look at KAG with confused expressions.

Cut to KAG standing in front of the Dry Well, in the Higurashi Shrine.

KAG:  (thinking) This is…!

Sota: (peers in from the door) Sis, you'll be late.

Cut to close up of the well. It is sealed with wooden planks and old and tattered seals are placed on top.

KAG:  (thinking) What's going on?!

Cut to KAG walking to school, in the streets. AYU, YUK and Eri walk in front of her.

KAG:  (bewildered, thinking) Has everything been a dream?!

The three girls stop and turn to KAG.

Eri:   What's the matter, Kagome?

YUK:  You look so depressed.

KAG:  Well…

AYU:  Have a problem?

YUK:  Like boyfriend trouble?

KAG:  Boyfriend? That's right! You remember my boyfriend, don't you?

YUK:  Of course!

KAG:  (thinking) Yes! It wasn't a dream, after all!

YUK:  (smiles) It's Hojo in Group B, right?

KAG:  (frowns and shouts) No! Remember…the jealous, rough, spoiled one…

Eri:   Who's that?

YUK:  You were two-timing Hojo?

KAG:  (furious) N-No…!

AYU:  (clasps her hands and smiles) Kagome, you sure go for it.

KAG shrugs in exasperation.

In KAG's classroom. KAG is staring into space.

KAG:  (thinking) I don't understand, but I've suddenly been thrust back into my old life.

Teacher: Higurashi!

KAG:  (stands) Yes!

Teacher: Read the next part.

KAG:  Yes! (holds up her book and pauses) Err…

Teacher: What's wrong?

KAG:  I'm sorry.

Teacher: Entrance exams are coming up soon. Pay attention!

KAG:  (sits back down and thinks) Entrance exams…

Cut to bird's eye view of evening in Tokyo.

KAG:  (voice-over) Yes, I'm supposed to study for exams.

Cut to KAG walking in the streets.

KAG:  (thinking) That's my real life. That was my hope. But…

HOJ:  Higurashi…!

HOJ cycles up to KAG from behind and stops. KAG turns around.

KAG:  Hojo!

HOJ:  (gives KAG a present) Here! I heard you were feeling down.

KAG opens the present and takes out a bamboo thingy.

HOJ:  It's good for your health. Step on it.

KAG:  (grimaces) Uh-huh…

Cut to close-up of HOJ's optimistic expression.

KAG:  (thinking) Something's different.

Cut to KAG crossing the road.

KAG:  (thinking) Like this is not right.

MIR and SAN, in casual modern clothes, walk past KAG. She doesn't notice them.

MIR:   (with one arm around SAN's waist) I want lots of children.

SAN:  (laughs) Oh stop!

In the courtyard of the Higurashi shrine. KAG walks listlessly, with her head hung low.

Kid's voice: Grandma, buy me a Sacred Jewel keychain!

KAG:  (looks up, shocked, thinking) The Sacred Jewel?

In front of KAG, GRA is talking to a modern day version of KAE and SHI. SHI wears a green T-shirt with a cartoon of his pink flying form on it. His tail is missing. They stand with their backs facing KAG.

GRA:  Now then, the origin of the Sacred Jewel is said…

SHI:   (holds the keychain) Let's go, Grandma! (walks)

KAE:  All right. (walks)

GRA:  Oh, you're leaving?

SHI and KAE walk off before KAG is able to recognise them. She felt a sharp pain on her neck. Her vision begins to become blur and she faints.

KAG wakes up on her bed in her room. The bamboo thing that HOJ gave her is on her desk. She sits up and Buyo is on the floor in front of her. She meows and looks at KAG intently.

KAG:  Buyo…something's wrong with me.

Buyo meows.

KAG:  (sighs) So many things are going round and round in my head.

Buyo stretches as KAG is talking. She rolls around on the floor.

KAG:  (looking out of the window) I feel like I was supposed to do something.

Buyo walks off and changes into cute KIR. KAG doesn't notice.

KAG:  (thinking) All the things I should remember are getting so mixed up.

Cut to KAG walking to school with her friends.

KAG:  (thinking) I just have this feeling that what I'm doing now is wrong. But…what am I supposed to do?

KAG looks up into the sky.

Cut to KAG in her classroom. She is writing into her book.

KAG:  (holds her hand over her neck, thinking) This pain that I feel sometimes…I'm getting used to it. And I don't worry about it much.

Cut to evening. School is dismissed. KAG walks alongside HOJ. HOJ is talking happily to KAG while pushing his bicycle along.

KAG:  (nervous, thinking) Who… Who am I? And why am I here? What am I doing? Why am I so anxious? Why am I uncertain?

Cut-scene of an arrow hitting the bull's eye on a target. Cut to KAG looking up suddenly and gasping, pulsating.

HOJ:  What's wrong, Higurashi?

KAG:  I'm sorry… (runs off) I'm sorry, Hojo!

Hojo: Higurashi…!

Cut to school archery training area. KIK stands behind a row of girls aiming at the board in front of them.

KIK:   All right! Next up!

The girls fire.

KIK:   So, you've finally come. (turns to KAG who just entered) Want to try?

KAG:  Huh?

KIK:   (hands KAG a bow) Isn't that why you're here?

KAG nods. Cut to KAG holding a bow, standing in front of one of the targets.

KIK:   (points) That target. Aim well.

KAG:  Okay. (draws an arrow)

KIK:   Your line is good.

KAG:  (thinking) Hit the mark! (fires)

The arrow hits outside the bull's eye area on the target.

KIK:   You have much to learn. Your concentration is lacking. (walks off)

KAG:  Umm… Who…

KIK:   (stops) Who are you?

KAG:  Huh?

KIK:   Who are YOU?

KAG:  I…

KIK:   Are you… me? (pauses) As it is, you'll end up killing Inuyasha yet again.

KAG:  Inuyasha?!

KAG winces in pain and holds her neck.

Fade to SAN holding up KAG, outside TSU's hut. KAG winces in pain, with eyes closed.

SAN:  Kagome! Hang on, Kagome!

The fox demon leaps and paws at INU, who dodges.

INU:   Damn!

KAG:  (weakly) I-Inuyasha!

Cut to KAG and KIK in the archery training area. KIK walks away from KAG. The background warps and changes into an abstract void.

KAG:  W-Wait! I must get out of this world!

KIK doesn't reply. KAG chases her.

KAG:  Wait, I said!

KIK:   (turns around, stern) Who are you?

KAG:  Now isn't the time…

KIK:   This world is your world. You have decided who you are. So answer. Who are you?

Cut to present. KAG's eyes suddenly open.

SAN:  Kagome!

KAG:  (weakly) Inuyasha…

INU leaps and claws at the fox demon. It growls and slaps INU to the ground with one of its tails. INU crashes to the ground and slides backwards. The fox-demon raises its head and growls.

KAG:  (sits up and draws an arrow) Inuyasha!

KAG fires the arrow and misses the fox-demon barely. It continues its flight towards TSU and hits the door behind her.

TSU:  (shocked) What!! You! Why can you still move?!

KAG:  (determined) Hey you! You're lacking in concentration!

TSU:  Humph! You've managed to endure my curse. Well, I guess being Kikyo's reincarnation wasn't a lie, after all. (smirks) Although, if you were the REAL Kikyo, that arrow wouldn't have missed. So you're just an imitation Kikyo.

KAG:  (furious) You…!

Cut-scene of KIK walking away. She turns around.

KIK:   (stern) Who are you?

Cut to present.

KAG:  (shouts) I AM Kagome! No one else! (fires another arrow which hits the stairs near TSU's feet)

TSU smirks.

Cut to KIK standing on the cliff, overlooking TSU's hut. She turns around and walks off.

Back at the outside of TSU's hut.

TSU:  Silly fool! Rushing to your death.

TSU squeezes Shikigami which drips more blood onto the Sacred Jewel on her palm. KAG winces in pain as the dark shards in her neck glow. She falls forward.

SAN:  Kagome!

INU:   Kagome!

KAG struggles in pain and holds onto her neck. The fox demon leaps towards KAG.

INU:   Kagome!

INU leaps towards KAG and grabs her. INU-gang run away swiftly as the fox-demon slams its huge paw on the ground they were on.

INU:   (thinking) Kagome won't last like this!

INU stops a distance away and puts KAG on the ground gently.

INU:   Kagome! Hang on for just a bit longer.

KAG:  (weakly) I can.

INU:   Kagome…

TSU:  (shouts) I've had enough of you two!

The fox demon growls and leaps towards INU and KAG. INU stands and turns around.

INU:   (determined) I'll never let her kill you! (leaps towards the fox demon with raised claws) You're in the way, creep! Iron Reaver, Soul Stealer!

INU claws at the fox-demon, splitting it into half, from jaw to tail. The fox demon breaks into pieces. He continues his jump towards TSU.

INU:   (shouts) This is it, Tsubaki!

INU claws at Shikigami on TSU's shoulder. Its head is torn off and flies into the air. It lands on the grass. MIR runs to it.

MIR:   Well done, Inuyasha!

MIR slams the base of his staff onto the head and it vaporises.

MIR:   All right!

INU:   Too bad about that, Tsubaki.

TSU:  (laughs) You're so naïve. Do you think the curse has been broken?

INU:   What?!

TSU:  The curse still holds!

INU and MIR look to KAG. SAN is holding onto KAG.

SAN:  (thinking) She's not recovering…even though the Shikigami has been destroyed.

TSU:  Kagome will die. And, so will you all.

The scar appears over TSU's right eye. A glow appears. INU gasps. A horde of demons fly out from the eye. One of them grabs INU and flies into the air. INU claws at it, breaking its head off and lands near MIR. A huge horde of demons fly towards them.

MIR:   She still had more demons inside her!

INU:   Damn it to hell!

INU runs towards TSU, clawing his way through the demons. MIR fends off the demons with his staff. SAN picks up HIR and turns to KIR.

SAN:  Kirara! Stand by Kagome! (runs forward and swings HIR) Hiraikotsu!

HIR slashes some of the demons. INU, MIR and SAN are fighting off the demons desperately. Suddenly the grass near MIR's feet rustle. MIR gasps. TSU smiles.

MIR:   (thinking) Shikigami! It couldn't be…

The body of Shikigami slither upwards and a head is slowly formed.

INU:   Damn! These demons were a diversion!

TSU:  Realized it only now! Too late! Shikigami! Bite off that woman's head and get the Sacred Jewel shards from her!

Shikigami slithers swiftly towards KAG and KIR.

INU:   (runs towards KAG) Kagome! (thinking) Damn! I won't make it!

KAG:  (struggles up and stares at the oncoming Shikigami determinedly) F-Forget it! (furious) I… I… (a glow surrounds KAG's bow) I… I…

Shikigami leaps towards KAG.

KAG:  (determinedly) I… I won't lose to you!

She sits up and hits it with her bow violently.

TSU:  What?!

Shikigami is thrown backwards and into TSU's eye. TSU shrieks. INU gapes in shock.

MIR:   She threw back Shikigami!

TSU:  (falls backwards, thinking) She reversed the curse to me! Just like Kikyo did… Just like that last time! Why must I be done in by that young twit?

TSU lands on the ground. The Sacred Jewel falls out of her hand. Dark fumes escape from the jewel.

TSU:  (horrified, thinking) The Sacred Jewel is beginning to purify!

The Sacred Jewel transforms back to its pink glow. Cut to the shards on KAG's neck reverting to pink and flying out.

SAN:  The shards are out!

Cut to TSU. She grabs the Jewel.

TSU:  Why you!

A horde of demons surround TSU and carry her into the air.

MIR:   She's getting away!

INU:   (unsheathes TET) Not from me! Hold it, you!

INU does a Wind Scar in the direction of TSU's hut. It destroys the hut and the demons surrounding TSU.

TSU:  W-What…!

The dead demons fall apart from TSU, leaving only two which continue to propel her higher into the sky. She fades away.

INU:   (sheathes TET) Damn! She got away. (runs to KAG and holds her up) Kagome!

KAG:  Inu…yasha…

[ End of ACT I: 20min 34sec ]

[ ACT II ]

In NAR's castle. KAR stands next to NAR, while KAN holds up a mirror to him.

KAR:   You're gonna let it go… The Sacred Jewel shard?

NAR:  I'll get it back right away. Besides…

KAR:   Besides?

NAR:  I must give the Dark Priestess a chance for revenge.

KAR:   (mockingly) You're so kind.

NAR scoffs and stares into space.

Daytime in a forest. The two demons that propelled TSU are on the ground. They vaporise. TSU sits on a root.

TSU:  (thinking) My powers have waned. No thanks to them…the demons have all died. I was so close! (looks at the Jewel in her hand, thinking) But as long as I have a Sacred Jewel this large, I'll be able to increase my powers immensely. (clasps her hand tightly, twitching in anger) Next time, I'll get you… You shall pay, Inuyasha and Kagome!

Evening. INU, piggybacking KAG, walks slowly back to KAE's village. KIR, MIR and SAN walk behind him.

SAN:  Kagome must be so tired.

MIR:   Can't be helped. She fought the spell for so long.

SHI and KAE appear on top of a knoll a distance away.

SHI:   (shouts) Hey! (runs to INU-gang excitedly) Inuyasha! Kagome!

INU:   (softly) Sorry, Kagome. All because you're with me…

KAG:  (softly) It's all right. I want to stay with you.

INU:   (smiles) Kagome…

The group approaches KAE and SHI. Pan upwards to the evening sky. A star has appeared.

[ End of ACT II: 22min 9sec ]

[ End of episode 62: Tsubaki's Unrelenting Evil Spell ]

[ Preview for next episode ]

Is that true, Kagome? Does the Dark Priestess Tsubaki still possess the Sacred Jewel? That's no fun! Who are they?! Tsubaki's helpers? But the Red Priestess and the White Priestess looks so auspicious! What?! I'm tricking Kagome and Miroku and the others? That's a lie! Next on Inuyasha: "The Red and White Priestesses". I have to shape up!